Sierra Mountain Times

Living in a small community, sustainability has always played a vital role, especially in these economic times. Gold Country Garden Supply, a new business just a few miles east of Sonora, is planting the seeds for sustainability. Adam Marsh, owner and operator has a new approach for healthy living, an organic local movement and the potential for local participation and economic growth.

I sat down with Adam at the Gold Country Garden Supply warehouse, which is located at the famous Tuolumne Tin Man, tucked behind Sunshine Station on Highway 108. Knowing Adam for many years I was excited to finally talk with him and get down to brass tacks about his ideas. We served on the Twain Harte State Park Committee, years ago to raise funds for the Twain Harte Skate Park. Since then we have had many talks about how to have an active role in the community, how we can build a stronger local economy and really plant some serious roots that will help the community grow.

Sierra Mountain Times: “You’ve recently moved back to Tuolumne County from Santa Cruz to start GCGS (Gold Country Garden Supply). What sparked you to start this business up here?”

Adam Marsh: “If you have the concept of a business that is based on sustainability, what better place to start it in than Tuolumne County. Tuolumne County has more abundant resources, land, clean air, water, weather, than anywhere else in California. Given our economic times it has become apparent to me that we are underutilizing these resources. It would be nice to see local Tuolumnites become less dependant on the Big Box Corporations and businesses outside of our neighborhood to live healthy lives.”

SMT: “Where does GCGS come into play with all of that in mind?”

AM: “I wanted to start an organic garden supply company in Tuolumne County. After doing hours and hours of research and development we found the perfect location. Too perfect. We could do so much more than just be a garden supply company. After settling in, we saw the opportunity to expand the idea and tie in local participation.”

SMT: “When you talk about local participation, where are you going with that?”

AM: “With the idea of sustainability, we can do all of this on our own in our own back yard. With that in mind, gardening is the foundation of it all. Clean water, composting, and organic foods. The garden store is an outlet for people to learn how to grow and eat organically. There’s a lot of information that has recently come out that for someone who is not in the business isn’t going to be able to get from a hardware store or a Big Box Corporation. We’re experts in this field. We want you to succeed. We want to help.”

SMT: “What about the side of the community that doesn’t have the space or the time or the actual physical strength to garden at this level on their own?”

AM: “That’s where the “so much more” comes in to play. GCGS’s warehouse is huge. Big enough to where we came up with the idea of having a year-round “farmer’s market”. A place where we have the resources to contribute to the community and spread the word of organics. What we are really striving for is something less like your traditional farmer’s market and more like a trade-expo. The Mother Lode Trade Expo. It’s going to allow people to come in from all over the community and bring whatever their talents are to the table and to the community and offer that product or service at an inexpensive price. We’re looking for organic vendors, selling food, fruits and vegetables out back when the season is right. In the spring time we’re planning on having greenhouses behind the warehouse, selling seed starts (rooted plants) and organic vegetables.”

SMT: “How is this going to work for me? Say I have a product and I want to sell it, what do I do? How much is it going to cost me?”

AM: “Actually for people who get in early we’re going to offer the first six weeks for free so that the vendors and the patrons can see what’s going on. We don’t want people coming in here and setting up a booth and telling them “good luck” and then have them have an unfortunate experience, lose money on their product just because they committed to a space at the expo. Really, the community is going to dictate what is going to succeed. It’s going to evolve - which is expected.”

SMT: “Where did all of this come from?”

AM: “We have a pretty unique location given what we initially came here to accomplish. It’s a private location, there’s tons of space – it just made sense.”

SMT: “Back to the store. What are you guys carrying? What’s different?”

AM: “Gold Country Garden Supply, first of all, is unique because of the quality of service and expertise that you will get when you walk in the door. Secondly, its the products that we carry. There’s a large inventory of organic soil and soil-less medium that is beyond competitive. Really, you can’t even find this stuff in our county. Things like indoor gardening supplies, hydroponics, propagation and pest and disease control supplies.”

SMT: “I couldn’t get these things anywhere else?”

AM: “Yeah. Well, you can buy some stuff around here, at one of the hardware stores, but you’ll pay more for it. Really, we’ve done a lot of work, researching and working with our vendors. We’re proud that we can be competitive and still have American companies delivering to our front door. We have access to organic farm supply distributors offering products that you can’t find anywhere else around here. We’re taking some initiative. But we want the community to dictate where this will ultimately go.”

Adam Marsh, owner of GCGS explains about a liter of Hydrozyme an organic enzyme that accelerates root growth.

SMT: “How is your business going to help the other businesses in the county and surrounding counties?”

AM: “That brings us back to the Mother Lode Trade Expo. This is a place for individuals to make money for themselves, where normally there wouldn’t be an avenue for them to take, except wholesaling their products, or spending more money that they don’t necessarily have on a retail space. Get into a lease…a whole web – that right now can be risky, too risky for some. And guess what happens to that money that they made? It turns around and gets spent here, locally. That’s what I’m talking about. Getting conscious of how and where we are all living, emphasis on living. The idea of being healthier, knowing what’s going in your body, what’s being put in a landfill, and especially how you are participating in your own community. That’s our objective.”

SMT: “What about the fact that the organic market, the products have such high prices?”

AM: “We’re trying to figure out how we can be an outlet to where we can offer some of the same products to the locals but have it be less expensive. The fact that the word organic is not the norm is kind of backwards. Where the reality is, something that is inorganic is the product that should be highlighted and not the other way around. That’s just not the case on our shelves in the stores across the country. It’s getting better but those organic products are still priced too high, and are pricing out communities like ours. This is something we are focusing on. And we can do this! We have all the tools necessary and the resources in this county are abundant.”

SMT: “But like you were saying before, there’s going to be more than just whole foods at the Trade Expo. Actually, that is something that we can all get excited about.”

AM: “We’re talking about a community that is smart and creative and independent. We’re not just talking about grocery items. We’re talking about hot food, wine, art, crafts, live music. Stuff that people can’t find anywhere else except maybe the summer craft fair circuit. This is going to be a year round thing and not be so dependant on just the fruits and vegetables. It’s about talent, local talent.”

SMT: “So does that mean jugglers and fire breathers are invited?”

AM: (Laughs) “Jugglers are invited, but you know the fire breathers…I’ll have to check with my insurance… We want to have a featured artist, a celebration at every expo. We want to have musicians. It’s funny; we’re just opening this up to the community. It’s going to be about what the community wants to make of it and we’re just a place for it to happen. A venue.”

SMT: “But is this open to more than just Tuolumne County? What if I was from Murphys or Mariposa?”

AM: “Well it’s free to anyone who wants to show up and shop. And for some time, it’s free for the vendors from all over to come and do what they do. The garden store, that’s what we know how to do. The green houses and the garden supply stuff at the expo, that’s what we are doing. The other 90% of the space in the warehouse is for everyone else to showcase what they know how to do. And who that is, will be dictated and supported by the patrons.”

SMT: “So really this is an organic movement, meaning this project, with the expo, is an evolving process and whatever works, works? To be honest, it doesn’t sound very focused.”

AM: “Think of it this way: as the seasons go by the vendors are going to change. Yes, there are going to be some vendors that are here year round, but I would highly doubt if someone will be selling llama wool beanies in the middle of August. The seasons, the economic climate, fads in fashion and food, even the holidays throughout the year will have an effect on what the expo looks like.“

SMT: “That makes sense. What sparked you to think of it that way?”

AM: “I already take the same attitude with the garden supply store. It’s the middle of winter. Everything in this store is based on the season and the local weather. We deal with snow. So I have products right now that I won’t carry come spring. But there is also inventory here that is here all year round. As the seasons change, our inventory will change and as the seasons change the Trade Expo will change.”

SMT: “What other thing are you going to be doing out the GCGS warehouse?”

AM: “We’re talking about starting an organic nonperishable food co-op.”

SMT: “Like frozen foods?”

AM: “Not so much frozen foods or breads, but things that we would normally go down to Costco for. Where you could get your…”

SMT: “Peanut butter pretzels?”

AM: “Cereal, crackers, dry foods, canned foods, soups, pasta.”

SMT: “What about Peanut butter pretzels?”

AM: “I’ll find you some peanut butter pretzels. But really, its things that seem to be expensive when you’re going grocery shopping organically around here. There are good businesses here – Twain Harte Market, Natures Whole Food Depot – they’re great places to get your vegetables, shop locally and support those businesses. But there are other things that we all want, but because they’re priced too high it’s deterring the average shopper from eating organically. GCGS has access to the same vendors that supply grocery stores such as New Leaf Market and Whole Foods Market. Eating organically shouldn’t be a luxury and businesses up here that sell organic boxed foods shouldn’t price things higher for the simple reason that there isn’t competition. How does that support locals?”

SMT: “I remember there were rumors of a Trader Joe’s coming up here, but for some reason or another, it never happened. Basically what you are saying is this is a way to have lower prices and that variety?”

AM: “Yeah, for example. I was down in Santa Cruz at a local grocery store and was buying organic dried mango. It was priced at $9.95 a pound. That same exact product up here was five dollars more. I know how much this stuff wholesales for. I have the same catalogs that both markets purchase from. (Adam pulled out the catalog and showed me the prices) It just doesn’t seem fair. I know it doesn’t cost as much to run a business up here compared to the Bay Area, or Monterey Bay. Why are we pricing out our own local community? Why are we making organic food a luxury? At the same time, I’m not talking about starting a new grocery store. I’m talking about a Co-Op. A volunteer based structure, which would lower overall prices.”

SMT: “I totally agree with you. Is there anything else you want to add?”

AM: “When you’re focusing on sustainability and local economy we all need to remember that what we are striving for is not to be doing what we are doing to be competitive, but do what we do because it’s healthy and the right thing. With this economy people have been taught that they can’t afford to be organic. And a Big Box Corporation has manipulated this community. You know? Eating natural organic food isn’t impossible; it isn’t that hard of a task. We have to start somewhere and stay on that path and grow. If we can get something for a lot less, especially right now when people are hurting for cash, we’re going to choose the cheaper option. Let’s make that less expensive choice a healthy one. One we can feel good about. With that said, I want to give special thanks to Alicia’s Sugar Shack, The Rock of Twain Harte, Twain Harte Market, The Nature’s Whole Food Depot, Sonora Creamery, Earth and Ocean Board Shop, Sierra Nevada Adventure Company, Glen and Bonnie Kolpack, Sierra Surfin’, Sunshine Station, The Prospector, Sierra Mountain Times and all the other local businesses that keep it in our community.”

Gold Country Garden Supply is located at 20159 Highway 108, Suite 10 at the Kolpack turn-off then on the right just past the storage units. For the month of January if you sign up for an account you can receive a 10-25% discount on selected items in the store. For vending and talent inquiries and for more information on the upcoming Mother Lode Trade Expo, or for a discussion about the organic non-perishable food co-op call Gold Country Garden Supply today at (209) 532-1568. Open from 10:30 a.m  to 5 p.m. Mon. through Sat.